Oslo, Norway and Needham, Massachusetts, United States
Fast Search & Transfer(TM) (OSEAX: FAST.OL) (FAST(TM)), the leading developer of search technologies, today unveiled the preliminary list of speakers and topics for its sell-out conference, FASTforward '07, the Business and Technology Conference for Innovative, Search-Powered Enterprise 2.0 Applications. In just its second year, FASTforward has established itself as the world's largest and most important conference focused on the far-reaching impact of search. This year's conference will host more than 1000 attendees including prominent Global 1000 CEOs and CIOs from more than 30 countries.
FASTforward '07 is being held at the San Diego Marriot Hotel and Marina, February 7 - 9, 2007 and features nearly 50 panel discussions, hosted conversations and live demonstrations. FASTforward has become the gathering place for business leaders using search technology to disrupt business, bringing together a community of innovators to discuss and debate the most important issues and strategies driving Enterprise 2.0. This year's theme, "Innovate, Accelerate and Dominate," addresses how organizations can use search-driven applications to create new business models and revenue opportunities - reshaping the business landscape.
Evolving business models and innovative technologies are causing widespread disruptions for businesses across the globe. Retailers are struggling with delivering a consistent multi-channel experience with contextually relevant advertising. Media companies are morphing from content production to user consumption models while carefully considering search-based strategies to reclaim their content, communities and ad revenue instead of partnering with Google. Telcos are under siege from VoIP and bandwidth-hungry content companies offering free, ad-based services. From start-ups to established businesses, forward-thinking organizations are leveraging search to find revolutionary new ways to monetize Web content, marginalize competitors, radically reduce IT costs and uncover new, expansive ways to support intelligent decision making.
This year's conference sessions will also delve into why search is at the core of the "2.0's" - Web 2.0, Enterprise 2.0, BI 2.0 - and will feature animated debate among industry luminaries about what will come next.
Keynote addresses at FASTforward '07 will be delivered by a world-class lineup of speakers including:
-- Chris Anderson, editor-in-chief, Wired, author of The Long Tail: Why the Future of Business is Selling Less of More
-- John Battelle, founder and chairman, Federated Media Publishing, author of THE SEARCH
-- Matthew Brown, senior analyst, Forrester Research
-- Jacques Bughin, partner, McKinsey & Company
-- William Inmon, published author and universally recognized as the father of the data warehouse
-- Ray Lane, partner, Kleiner Perkins Caufield & Byers, former COO of Oracle
-- Tim O'Reilly, founder and CEO, O'Reilly Media, Inc.
-- Michael Schrage, co-director, MIT Media Lab's E-Markets Initiative
-- Henry Birdseye Weil, senior lecturer, MIT Sloan School of Management
FAST has also launched a companion blog to FASTforward '07 where some of the sharpest minds in the enterprise software applications world are squaring off in spirited and engaging discussion. FASTforward blog is live today at: http://www.fastfowardblog.com.
"This year's event promises to be a hit as FAST is honored to call some of the most well-known names in all of technology our guests," said John M. Lervik, CEO of FAST. "FAST customers are leading the search revolution and FASTforward '07 will demonstrate how search is the key technology that is currently changing and will continue to change the way we live our lives and conduct our businesses."
For more detailed information on the conference agenda or to register, please visit http://www.fastforward07.com.
About FASTforward '07
FASTforward '07, February 7-9, 2007 in San Diego, will feature a lively, fast-paced cross-section of keynote-level talks, issue-driven panels, and industry expert presentations that explore how companies are developing and implementing a new wave of enterprise class applications. The breakout sessions feature business and technology case studies and presentations, moderated by industry experts on a wide range of topics. Speakers include Chris Anderson, Ray Lane, John Battelle, Tim O'Reilly, Andrew McAfee, Bill Inmon, and many others.
About FAST
FAST creates the real-time search and business intelligence solutions that are behind the scenes at the world's best known companies with the most demanding information challenges. FAST's flexible and scalable integrated technology platform and personalized portal connects users, regardless of medium, to the relevant information they need.
FAST is headquartered in Norway and is publicly traded under the ticker symbol 'FAST' on the Oslo Stock Exchange. The FAST Group operates globally with presence in Europe, the United States, Asia, Australia, the Americas, and the Middle East. For further information about FAST, please visit www.fastsearch.com.
(C) 2006 Fast Search & Transfer ASA - Fast Search & Transfer, FAST, FAST ESP, Contextual Insight and the FAST logo are trademarks of Fast Search & Transfer ASA. All rights reserved.
CONTACT: FAST Brian Greehan +1 781-418-2400 fast@daviesmurphy.com or Carine Zeier (Europe) +47 23 01 12 00 pr@fastsearch.com
Source: Business Wire (Business Wire India)